Photovoltaic solar panels at the project site.
DOHA: Qatar moved a step forward in its commitment to sustainable development yesterday, as it announced installation of the first photovoltaic solar panels in the initial phase of the QR20bn Msheireb Downtown Doha (MDD) Project.
With the completion of the final phase, the innovative system is expected to reduce total greenhouse gas emissions by 568 metric tonnes which is equivalent to 241,000 litres of petrol consumed each year.
Installed by ‘Innovations Unlimited ME’, the roof-mounted photovoltaic modules will supply a portion of electricity needs of the buildings within Phase 1 of the landmark development.
The buildings are being installed with 2,072 photovoltaic panels and 37 inverters, feeding 463.4kWp (kilowatts at peak power) of electricity and will feed directly into the power grid of the development, significantly reducing the buildings’ carbon emissions.
Photovoltaic solar panels use sunlight to generate electricity through the photovoltaic effect — the creation of an electric current within certain materials when they are exposed to light. Solar panels are designed to capture this electricity so it can be harnessed.
Abdulla Hassan Al Mehshadi, Chief Executive Officer at Msheireb Properties, said: “Adopting advanced clean technology such as solar energy in addition to traditional methods of climate management is a hallmark of the Msheireb project which will have one of the largest concentrations of LEED-certified buildings in the world on completion.
“Our partnership with Innovations Unlimited ME to install advanced solar power within Phase 1 of the development will help us move steadily towards achieving this goal.”
When MDD is complete, the project will comprise 5,200 solar panels across 8,400 square meters of onsite energy production in the form of electricity and hot water.
Development of MDD, the world’s first sustainable regeneration of a downtown area in a major city, is progressing well with infrastructure work now completed. Construction of the National Archive and the Heritage Quarter is on track to be completed this year.
Innovations Unlimited ME was established in 2009 and has its headquarters in Doha, with a branch office in Bahrain.
It provides innovative renewable energy products and services for small and large projects. The portfolio includes photovoltaic solutions, solar thermal water heating, solar cooling, building-integrated photovoltaic, solar street lights and wind energy solutions. The Peninsula
